If you’re planning a trip to Moraira and want to discover some of its fascinating history, Moraira castle should be first on your lists of things to do in Moraira.
Where is Moraira castle?
Moraira castle sits at the edge of Moraira’s beach, l’Ampolla beach in the centre of the town. You’ll find Moraira Castle at Calle Castillo, right next to the beach.
The castle overlooks the Mediterranean Sea, giving visitors amazing views of the coastline. You can see it from almost anywhere along the main Moraira beach, standing guard over the bay.
You can get some wonderful pictures of the castle by the sea, and Calpe rock in the distance.
The history of Moraira castle
Built in the 18th century, Moraira castle was constructed as a defensive fortress to protect the town and its inhabitants from Berber pirate attacks. These raids were quite common along the Spanish Mediterranean during this period.
What you’ll see today isn’t actually the original structure – the fortress was restored in the early 1980s after the original had fallen into disuse and crumbled down over time. The restoration aimed to stay true to the initial design.
The architecture of Moraira castle
Unlike what I mentioned earlier, the castle has a unique floor plan shaped like an “ox hoof” (pezuña de buey), with a semi-circular façade facing south. The only entrance gate is located on the northern side, where you can spot the royal coat of arms of the Bourbons.
Inside, the castle is divided into three sections. The central section spreads over 200 square metres, while the two side sections are smaller. These spaces were originally vaulted and had only three windows on the façade as a source of light, making the fortress sturdy and difficult to attack.
Near the entrance gate, there’s a small chapel that was likely once inside the castle. Just a couple of metres away, you’ll find a water well that was used to supply the fortress inhabitants.
What to see at Moraira castle
Today, Moraira castle houses an audio-visual museum focused on the sea and piracy. There’s also a permanent exhibition about surveillance towers and piracy in the Mediterranean, with projections available in several languages.
The castle isn’t enormous, and you can see everything in about 30-45 minutes, but the views from the top are absolutely worth it. On a clear day, you can see far along the beautiful Mediterranean coastline.
Visiting information
Entry to Moraira castle is free! This makes it a brilliant budget-friendly activity.
Moraira castles opening hours are:
- Monday: closed
- Tuesday: closed
- Wednesday: closed
- Thursday: closed
- Friday: 10:15am – 1:15pm
- Saturday: 10:15am – 1:15pm
- Sunday: 10:15am – 1:15pm
Around the castle
After you’ve finished at the castle, l’Ampolla beach is right there waiting for you. It’s a lovely sandy beach with clear blue water – perfect for a cooling dip after your castle visit.
There’s a lot of pretty sights to see around Moraira, including the Moraira port, the charming shopping alleys in the town, and of course, El Portet.
If you’re feeling hungry after your castle visit, there are several excellent seafood restaurants near the marina.
There are plenty of bars to visit too if you want a drink or small bite to eat.
Getting to Moraira castle
If you’re driving, there’s a car park close to the castle that’s free to use. Just be aware that during peak summer months it fills up quickly, so arriving early is a good idea.
Public transport to Moraira is somewhat limited, but if you’re travelling to Moraira from afar, there are buses from Benidorm and Alicante. The closest stop to the castle is about a 10-minute walk away.
For those staying in nearby towns like Javea or Calpe, driving in a rental car, or a taxi would take you straight there.
